Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
There are, however, examples of proceedings both with the British
Parliament and with us, as similar to the method now proposed as the
various cases would admit. With ourselves, the case of the unfortunate
Western expedition mentioned by my colleague (Mr. GREGG) yesterday,
was much more to the purpose than the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
GRISWOLD) was willing to admit. Mr. F. said he had the honor to be one
of the committee of inquiry which sat on that subject a great proportion
of two sessions. The expedition was too late in setting out to the Indian
country; they were said to have been illy provided with necessaries,
and long detained for want of them; a large proportion of the army were
killed or taken by the savages, and all the stores with the army left.
The citizens were discontented, and numerous complaints were heard, but
none knew with certainty whom to blame; a committee was appointed to
examine witnesses and report the testimony to the House, in order to
discover the party who had been to blame. Some had charged it on the
commanding General, others on the Secretary of War, and others on the
Commissary of Military Stores, and these last endeavored to wrest the
blame from themselves and fix it on the General. It was certain that a
great misfortune had happened, but it was not certain that any officer
was to blame; no charge had been made to Congress against any officer,
yet Congress thought proper to make an inquiry, and it was not opposed on
account of want of form, or want of precedents, by any of the friends of
the parties. Towards the close of the first session, the committee made a
concise report, referring to a great amount of testimonies. Some of the
parties implicated by the report thought themselves injured by it, and
it was alleged that other witnesses ought to be examined. Consequently,
at the next session, the business was recommitted to the same committee,
and as it was near the close of the last session of that Congress, before
all the witnesses were procured and examined, and the parties heard by
the committee, each of the parties wrote and delivered to the committee
a large book of explanations and defence. The committee reported a large
wooden box full of testimony, of original letters and instructions,
and the three books of explanations and defence accompanied with some
observations. It was not possible for that Congress to enter on the
business, and the cause being of a transient nature, and the parties who
applied for the second inquiry not wishing a disclosure of the testimony,
the business was not afterwards entered on; but the mass of testimony,
&c., is yet in possession of Congress. This, it is presumed, applies well
in favor of the present resolution.
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